AR - Rep. Harris rehomed his adopted daughter to man who sexually abused her

[K_Z]

I have to disagree with the idea that this adoption was part of a "pipeline" scheme to traffic children. I don't seen any evidence of that from the history. The handover (as reported by JH) to doesn't fit the timeline or pattern for that, IMO. The timeline and circumstances also don't seem to support an "adoption by proxy" with intent to pass off the girls to the pedophile and his wife, IMO. If that did occur, I think it was opportunistic predation, not a planned out scheme.

And I also don't agree that the "only" motivation for them trying to foster, then adopt, the girls was purely to rake in about $1200/ month ($400 x 3 girls) in subsidies. From all external appearances, this is a solidly middle to upper middle class family, and an extra $800 -$1200/ month (using the above figures in an earlier post) is probably not going to make or break this family's budget, IMO.

 

[OneLove]

It seems that he kept pointing out how they took many actions to circumvent the DHS process but now wants to blame DHS for everything that "went wrong".

Anyone want to list the many seeming inconsistencies in his story/perspective? I'll start with this one: they rehomed the girls due to his wife's upcoming pancreatic surgery and the hardship that caused, then next sentence they're at Branson at the theme park having fun on the rides. And later: pro bono attorney for procedures to circumvent DHS process, but didn't confer with him on legalities of rehoming? Still scratching my head at that one.

 

[Margo/Mom]

I don't think there is anything at this point he could say that would have me think "o.k. That makes sense. I think he's clean and did the right thing by the children."

Nope. Not buying it at all.

I would agree. This is a giant mess-up, most likely motivated in part by a desire to maintain a certain public image. And he certainly had the resources to not only know better, but to figure out a way to most likely stay on the right side of the laws as they exist.

However, I have little trouble believing that he and his wife were blind-sided by the reality of caring for some seriously hurt little girls. A part of the symptomology of Reactive Attachment Disorder is that such children can appear very engaging and sociable. Yet they are capable of incredibly dangerous and threatening behaviors (sometimes referred to as children without a conscience)--most often within their new families. When I hear that each of the three girls are now doing well in other families, well, I hope and pray that is the case--as they certainly do not need any more family disruptions. But, I also hope that there new families are well-supported throughout the long-haul. Children who are hurt at such a very young age can present some of the greatest challenges in child welfare.

 

[kaen]

I have to disagree with the idea that this adoption was part of a "pipeline" scheme to traffic children. I don't seen any evidence of that from the history. The handover (as reported by JH) to doesn't fit the timeline or pattern for that, IMO. The timeline and circumstances also don't seem to support an "adoption by proxy" with intent to pass off the girls to the pedophile and his wife, IMO. If that did occur, I think it was opportunistic predation, not a planned out scheme.

And I also don't agree that the "only" motivation for them trying to foster, then adopt, the girls was purely to rake in about $1200/ month ($400 x 3 girls) in subsidies. From all external appearances, this is a solidly middle to upper middle class family, and an extra $800 -$1200/ month (using the above figures in an earlier post) is probably not going to make or break this family's budget, IMO.

I don't see it as a "pipeline" but I believe that if you take a child who you have become legally responsible for and place them with others outside of the legal system then you are engaged in trafficking them. What is the trafficking trade off? The Harris family did not have to go though the public humiliation of a disruption. They continued to take subsidy checks giving the appearance that they were still responsible for the children.

I agree that the subsidies were not such a windfall and the only motivation. But, the subsidies might have been an incentive to the family where the abuse happened, especially since the man had lost his job. If they were struggling financially, they might have really needed the cash.

At the end of the day, the Harris family got in over their head for whatever reason. Rather than addressing the situation from a legal and ethical standpoint, they chose to put these children at great risk. If the girls' behavior shifted based on the adoption, the Harris family had a duty to help them with services rather than compounding the issues of abandonment by placing them with another family who was unvetted in terms of their fit to care for the needs psychologically or financially.

 

[Margo/Mom]

And I also don't agree that the "only" motivation for them trying to foster, then adopt, the girls was purely to rake in about $1200/ month ($400 x 3 girls) in subsidies. From all external appearances, this is a solidly middle to upper middle class family, and an extra $800 -$1200/ month (using the above figures in an earlier post) is probably not going to make or break this family's budget, IMO.

Particularly when the actual costs of caring for a child are taken into consideration.

 

[OneLove]

Also, it seems from his interview that they clearly did not want the oldest sibling from the git go. DHS does everything possible to keep siblings together. So the system was circumvented so they could split the 2 younger ones off from the eldest. And we wonder why they were ANGRY when they suddenly realized this was their "forever" placement?? Well, hell yeah. So many breaches of trust for these kiddos, so very sad.

 

[liljim]

if you watch the interview after the press conference he says that they didnt want to involve DYS right from the start, i had a feeling as i stated in the thread before the press conference that this was going to be the case.
so it should not be surprising to anyone that they then claim to have had trouble with and received nothing but hostility from DYS throughout this situation.
i dont see any reason yet to think that he had nefarious motives in adopting, or that he had any idea that he was putting the girls in harms way by placing them with this francis guy, but im growing less and less sympathetic to him every time he opens his mouth.

 

[liljim]

Also, it seems from his interview that they clearly did not want the oldest sibling from the git go. DHS does everything possible to keep siblings together. So the system was circumvented so they could split the 2 younger ones off from the eldest. And we wonder why they were ANGRY when they suddenly realized this was their "forever" placement?? Well, hell yeah. So many breaches of trust for these kiddos, so very sad.

yeah i thought he said that, that for some reason they didnt want the 8 year old included even before they did the 6 month trial, didnt he say that they only accepted the older child so that they would be allowed to adopt the younger children?

that doesnt sound like a very good beginning... i was going to go back and watch that again and make sure i heard it correctly because it sounded so terrible.

 

[K_Z]

I agree with your post, kaen-- and maybe I was thinking of a different definition of trafficking when I was pondering that. Certainly moving the girls to another unvetted home could meet the definition of trafficking, and the "benefit" to the trafficker could be simply being relieved of the responsibility, as opposed to a monetary incentive. (Or intentionally delivering the children into a child ring.)

One would think that during the investigation of the pedophile, where several children were involved, that the Harris' would have been investigated for the complete circumstances of how they came to deliver the girls to the pedophile. Is that what JH meant when he says they were "cleared of all charges"? It seems logical that there could have been threats of prosecution of the Harrises during the investigation of the pedophile, unless they fully cooperated.

ETA: Investigation, not trial. Eric Francis pleaded guilty, so no trial.

 

[kaen]

However, I have little trouble believing that he and his wife were blind-sided by the reality of caring for some seriously hurt little girls. A part of the symptomology of Reactive Attachment Disorder is that such children can appear very engaging and sociable. Yet they are capable of incredibly dangerous and threatening behaviors (sometimes referred to as children without a conscience)--most often within their new families. When I hear that each of the three girls are now doing well in other families, well, I hope and pray that is the case--as they certainly do not need any more family disruptions. But, I also hope that there new families are well-supported throughout the long-haul. Children who are hurt at such a very young age can present some of the greatest challenges in child welfare.

I have seen first hand a child with RAD and the devastation created within a family system. So, I can understand IF these girls had RAD that Harris and his wife might have needed respite or alternative placement. That said, many families who discuss their children displaying RAD symptoms don't have children who have been actually diagnosed with RAD. Moreso, the issues may really be more about transitioning and developing a trust when bonds have been broken. They would have needed a formal dx that would have included a treatment plan. The treatment plan could have been submitted to DHS to discuss how DHS could help in the treatment cycle. Did the new family with the pedophile dad continue psychiatric treatment of the girls? What behaviors were exhibited there? Once a child is sexually abused, it might be impossible to only have the dx as RAD only. These kids were at risk. In the home study process, the Harris family should have been educated about these kinds of issues and supports available to them if the situation occurred. I am sure DHS social workers were on the lookout for behaviors and clues during the 6 months before the adoption. It just does not add up.

 

[K_Z]

Good grief. The Preschool parents were never notified about Eric Francis' arrest for child rape. (Dated 3-6-15)

There's lot of concern on behalf of parents with children who attended the "Growing God's Children" pre-school facility while Eric Francis, a former employee who sexually assaulted a little girl. Parents from that school weren't notified of any concerns regarding Eric Francis. According to the Department of Human Services, there is no policy in place requiring the preschool to alert parents since the crime did not happen at the facility. Despite that, those parents we spoke to say they should've been told that a staff employee assaulted a minor.

Arkansas DHS says since the assault didn't happen at the preschool, workers were not obligated to inform parents. A lawyer for the preschool's owner says state police did interview parents who had direct contact with Francis and asked they not tell other parents. Given the circumstances, this dad is removing his kids from "Growing God's Kingdom".

"For somebody to run around and claim their religion, and name a facility Growing God's Kingdom, and you hide the fact that you had a child predator in your facility is a joke to me," he said.

http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext...s-to-mention-for/27683/jW0LIIuUzkCaZ6SNglZ45A

And then there's this report from April 2014:

Francis had recently been head teacher at Growing God's Kingdom Preschool at West Fork, which is owned by state Rep. Justin Harris and which receives state funding under the state's ABC pre-school program.

Harris said he was devastated and sickened by news of the arrest, which occurred April 4, more than two months after Francis had left employment at the school. Harris said Francis had worked previously in early childhood education for the Bentonville School District and with a Head Start program, plus he had been through intensive state scrutiny in the course of adopting children. He also was a youth pastor at a church. "He came with a pristine record," he said. Harris said he hired Francis in November, but ended his employment Jan. 28 for a poor work record, in either failing to show up or arriving late. He said he worked only 38 days over a three-month period.

Harris notified parents of the allegation against Francis to prepare them for State Police investigators' interviews with children at the school last week. They interviewed children who had regular contact with Francis. "I'm confident nothing happened to our children," Harris said. He said rules require operation of a camera in the pre-school classroom. It keeps a permanent record and is monitored in main offices, he said. Teachers also always are supposed to have another adult aide present. He said State Police investigators had informed him of no adverse findings. The State Police won't comment on such investigations. The state Department of Human Services said it has no active investigation into Harris' school and referred all other questions to the State Police.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/04/21/former-pre-school-teacher-charged-with-rape

 

[kaen]

One would think that during the trial of the pedophile, where several children were involved, that the Harris' would have been investigated for the complete circumstances of how they came to deliver the girls to the pedophile. Is that what JH meant when he says they were "cleared of all charges"? It seems logical that there could have been threats of prosecution of the Harrises during the investigation of the pedophile, unless they fully cooperated.

That is what I took that statement to mean--- "cleared of all charges"--- as well. I see this as a gap in our system though. If this was a drug addicted parent who left their child with a stranger and something happened to that child, I think many people would be on the side of child endangerment charges. Why does the Harris family (where they knew that to adopt a child legal proceedings, home studies, and oversight is needed) think that their placement of these girls outside of their family structure with no oversight or checks and balances is appropriate? I understand that the Harris family might not have thought that sexual abuse could occur but they did nothing to ensure that these girls were protected or even legally placed.

 

[kaen]

Many LEO will openly say that the pedophiles you know about are not nearly as concerning as the pedophiles who have never been arrested. I think disclosure to families would be the right thing--morally. He seemed like he had a clean record. I would think that LE and DHS was the best to disclose to families because the CC facility would not have the most accurate information and could not legally disclose about what was alleged.

I could see asking parents who were interviewed to not disclose so they could have a clean investigation.

It is very creepy to think that you might not find out about the allegations made about someone who took care of your child.

 

[K_Z]

Harris' attorney, Jennifer Wells, said the lawmaker and his wife adopted the 6- and 3-year-old girls in March 2013 at the request of the children's mother. Seven months later, Wells said, he gave the girls to a longtime family friend who had worked at Harris' family-owned preschool. Wells said the wives of Harris and Eric Francis had known each other for 20 years and that the Francis family had passed background checks for international adoptions.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article12882434.html#storylink=cpy

Francis, 39, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of sexual assault in the second degree, which involved the 6-year-old and two underage girls Francis knew through church. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with an additional 20 years suspended and is being held at the Benton County Jail. The jail didn't list a lawyer for Francis and an attorney listed in court records didn't respond to a request for comment.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article12882434.html#storylink=cpy

BBM.

I have to notice that all of this, the girl's bio mom, the Harrises, and Eric Francis and his wife, the preschool connection-- all of the "passing off" of the girls, and Eric Francis' additional victims, occurs within their church connections.

 

[Margo/Mom]

I have seen first hand a child with RAD and the devastation created within a family system. So, I can understand IF these girls had RAD that Harris and his wife might have needed respite or alternative placement. That said, many families who discuss their children displaying RAD symptoms don't have children who have been actually diagnosed with RAD. Moreso, the issues may really be more about transitioning and developing a trust when bonds have been broken. They would have needed a formal dx that would have included a treatment plan. The treatment plan could have been submitted to DHS to discuss how DHS could help in the treatment cycle. Did the new family with the pedophile dad continue psychiatric treatment of the girls? What behaviors were exhibited there? Once a child is sexually abused, it might be impossible to only have the dx as RAD only. These kids were at risk. In the home study process, the Harris family should have been educated about these kinds of issues and supports available to them if the situation occurred. I am sure DHS social workers were on the lookout for behaviors and clues during the 6 months before the adoption. It just does not add up.

kaen--I do not disagree. This was a major bungle from beginning to end. I don't think there was a routine home study--owing to the kids having been already identified (apparently the kids' mom wanted the Harrises to adopt her kids?) for placement with the Harrises. Yet, DHS was sufficiently involved to have granted an adoption subsidy and to make an alternate placement of the older daughter (which could have been on the grounds of her behavior toward the younger girls). So--likely Harris had some influence within DHS. This sort of thing does not necessarily go down well with front-line workers, who he was likely in contact with in trying to get help. And IF what he was looking for was something along the lines of institutionalization or residential treatment, well in fact, in some situations the shortest distance to getting that kind of help IS in fact to abandon the children, or to cede parental rights to DHS.

So--I cannot hold him blameless for his contributions (including the possibility of assuming RAD without a complete diagnosis). I am simply cognizant that finding a forever family is simply the beginning of the road and not the end. And I have seen some earnestly good people worn down by trying to be family without sufficient support or understanding.

 

[kaen]

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article12882434.html#storylink=cpy



Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article12882434.html#storylink=cpy

BBM.

I have to notice that all of this, the girl's bio mom, the Harrises, and Eric Francis and his wife, the preschool connection-- all of the "passing off" of the girls, and Eric Francis' additional victims, occurs within their church connections.

Totally creepy and worth some real investigations of the church group.

 

[Margo/Mom]

That is what I took that statement to mean--- "cleared of all charges"--- as well. I see this as a gap in our system though. If this was a drug addicted parent who left their child with a stranger and something happened to that child, I think many people would be on the side of child endangerment charges. Why does the Harris family (where they knew that to adopt a child legal proceedings, home studies, and oversight is needed) think that their placement of these girls outside of their family structure with no oversight or checks and balances is appropriate? I understand that the Harris family might not have thought that sexual abuse could occur but they did nothing to ensure that these girls were protected or even legally placed.

I think that one issue is that all that legal stuff IS NOT required of a family who simply decides to "rehome" their child with someone else. My suspicion is that Harris did his own "due diligence" and was aware that he could give the kids away sans the involvement of DHS without violating any existing laws.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Totally creepy and worth some real investigations of the church group.

Yes--the possible religious aspects of this are also disturbing.

 

[K_Z]

An article on the issues/ scandal that plagued the Growing God's Kingdom preschool. JH states in his legislative promo spot that they serve 168 low income children. This 2012 article outlines the troubles the school had, as enrollment declined to 90. The dispute is in a religious based private school taking government subsidies for education.

Interesting, in the run up to the fostering, adoption, re-homing, and the hiring and firing of Eric Francis, etc.

http://5newsonline.com/2012/08/24/enrollment-down-at-local-religious-preschool/

Confusion over new a state rule regarding religious instruction in schools has caused enrollment at Growing God’s Kingdom preschool in West Fork to decline, according to state Rep. Justin Harris, who owns the preschool.

The state Department of Human Services recently banned private schools from teaching religion during school hours if the school receives state money.

Growing God’s Kingdom relies on Arkansas Better Chance state money to fund schooling for low-income families. This year the school has received $534,000, according to the Department of Human Services.

Some people argue that using public funds at religious schools violates the U.S. Constitution. Steve Sheppard, a University of Arkansas law professor, is among those who believe the separation must be maintained.

 

[shadowraiths]

A few more links for your perusal.

On the petition for rep JH to resign (at change.org), one of the signers, the alleged foster mom of the victims, puts forth extremely serious allegations regarding the DCFS director:

i am the foster mom of the kids he discarded. We all tried to tell Marsha and Justin of the difficulties they would endure with the girls. They would not listen. They kept bragging about their degrees in early childhood development and their experience with children. Plus they insisted they had all the therapists on hand at their preschool to help with their problems. Plus they said God called them to do this and he would get them through anything. We tried to not send the girls there and [redacted] pulled strings and blackmailed DHS workers. I would love to correspond with you about this tragic preventable catastrophe.​

link (I redacted the name, you can see it at the link)

As for Eric Francis. While this may have been his first arrest, it is quite likely that he has left scores of victims. Bc of this, I absolutely question JH's claim that there were no victims at his school, esp considering he did not bother to alert the parents:

WEST FORK, AR--There's lot of concern on behalf of parents with children who attended the "Growing God's Children" pre-school facility while Eric Francis, a former employee who sexually assaulted a little girl. Parents from that school weren't notified of any concerns regarding Eric Francis. According to the Department of Human Services, there is no policy in place requiring the preschool to alert parents since the crime did not happen at the facility. Despite that, those parents we spoke to say they should've been told that a staff employee assaulted a minor.​

link

as he so claimed:

Harris notified parents of the allegation against Francis to prepare them for State Police investigators' interviews with children at the school last week. They interviewed children who had regular contact with Francis. "I'm confident nothing happened to our children," Harris said.​

link

Interestingly, or not:

Harris’ business operates on almost $900,000 a year and serves about 150 kids. Of that, all but about 6 percent comes in the form of state and federal dollars in a program aimed at developmentally disabled and poor children. The money provides Harris and his wife almost $60,000 a year in salary and benefits. It also covers the mortgage on his privately owned building and rent payments to the Harrises. So the government spending hawk lives on government spending, a double dip of payroll, perks and rent payments.
Read more at http://wonkette.com/578427/lets-mee...ses-godly-child-abandoner#uWeTHJuki7zPLOWP.99​

link (warning strong political bent)

And finally, imho, there is something about this case that just doesn't sit right. Esp with the blackmail allegations, along with the fact that the Harris' hired this guy with the supposed pristine record for two months, fired him, then gave him the little girls. Add to this the state money that seems to be involved. From the state subsidized school, to the adoption subsidy, to the fact that the DFCS director sits on the Arkansas Children's Trust Fund board. And?

Just sayin...